Miche Race Axy WP DX disc brake wheelset review

If you’re looking for an all-round disc brake wheelset, which can cope with the UK’s rough road surfaces and year-round conditions, at a modest price, the Miche Race Axy has a lot going for it.

Miche is a classic Italian manufacturer of alloy components and alloy and carbon wheelsets, based around an hour north of Venice, in Italy’s bike manufacturing heartland. It’s been in business for almost 100 years and is still in the same factory. The company has a catalogue of over 10,000 different lines and has been making wheels for close to 20 years.

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But it’s invested in automation and computer controlled machinery, so although the Race Axy is laced by hand, it’s trued by a Dutch machine to +/- 0.2mm – a considerably closer tolerance than most wheel makers aim for.

Miche also CNC machines its own hubs from aluminium billets and assembles them on site. Miche provides, at extra cost, all the adapters necessary to fit quick release axles as well as the variety of thru-axle standards which you find on different road disc bikes. There’s also a Campagnolo cassette body available. The wheels use the Shimano Centerlock rotor standard, which makes for a clean look.

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The Race Axy is a mid-section wheelset, with a 30mm deep asymmetric alloy rim. So it’s not designed to be particularly aero, but does have a 17mm internal, 23mm external width, so it supports wider tyres well. It’s a bit heavier than some – the Fulcrum Racing 7 DB has a claimed weight of 1750g for example, although the Mavic Aksium Disc wheelset’s weight is similar to the Race Axy.

Out on the road, the Race Axy belies its relatively high weight. It feels very well built and sturdy with little flex, so that power delivery is effective and you can move on fast both on the flat and once you hit the hills.

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The 24 classic J-bend butted steel spokes are laced two-cross front and rear. They use Sapim brass nipples, which should be resistant to freezing, allowing the wheels to be trued if needed.

So for a classic sportive or training wheel, the Miche Race Axy WP DX wheelset should prove ideal and give long service whatever conditions it is used in.